TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Among the many individual, family, and group donations of local humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine — under siege by Vladimr Putin of Russia since Feb. 24 — the township police and public affairs departments have come through with gifts from the community that will be put to immediate use.
Amid the immense need still deepening and widening in Ukraine, for each recipient of food, medicine, or other necessity this will be a vital comfort.
According to the WTPD, 33 volunteers from the township packaged a week’s worth of community donations into 122 boxes on March 14.
These they labeled and delivered to UNWLA – Ukrainian National Women’s League and the Ukrainian Community Center in Jersey City.
This handily topped the 41 boxes this crew delivered March 5, the police said. The collection site was at police headquarters, 350 Hudson Ave. The effort was coordinated by Cpl. Travis Cangialosi and Daisy Velez — who leads the town’s public affairs department and has a seat on the Township Council.
Men, women, and children came together, Township Strong and got it done.
“We thank everyone for their continued support. The drive is closed and we will post if and when we continue. Thanks to all who helped,” Cangialosi said.
On March, 5 the WTPD posted the department and the Public Affairs Department were overwhelmed by the generosity of donations received well ahead of the official drive.
The Ukrainian National Home/Ukrainian Community Center said it was collecting for Ukrainian military and civilians — fighting for their lives and land against obvious and heart-rending war crimes by the Russian leader.
The center said it is accepting Motorola or Hytera two-way radios with encryption, and various drones; tactical gear such as goggles, gloves, and combat pants; blankets, sleeping bags, bed linens, towels, and mats; such personal care items as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, and wet wipes; flashlights, matches, candles, power banks, and batteries; medical supplies such as bandages, antiseptic, wound care, first aid kits, and pain/fever relief medicine; and canned foods and non-perishable goods.
Meals ready to eat, or MREs, are welcome.
The center said it is no longer accepting clothes and diapers, and cannot accept perishable food or any liquids.
The center is definitely accepting checks made out to Ukrainian National Home (memo: Stand With Ukraine) and transfers by Venmo and PayPal. It says the money will be used to buy items in high demand and to ship donations to Ukraine.
Other ways to donate:
- United Help Ukraine.
- Revived Soldiers Ukraine.
- Razom for Ukraine.
- UNWLA/Ukrainian National Women’s League of America.
Of residents’ support for the innocents of Ukraine, Mayor Peter Calamari posted on March 6, “This is what I love most about living and raising a family in a small community! When there is a need, our residents respond. Truly proud of the efforts accomplished in such a small amount of time.”
He added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine as they continue to suffer the consequences of this conflict.”
He thanked the WTPD, the Public Affairs Department, and “the countless volunteers and contributions from our generous residents! Together we can get through anything!”
Also on March 6, Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-39) posted his admiration of the local effort. “The strength of community is obvious in the Township of Washington. Thank you for being partners to the world’s neediest.”
On March 13, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) released a statement on behalf of the bipartisan 58-member Problem Solvers Caucus urging additional action to provide Ukrainian defense aid.
In his statement, he praised the “heroic and skillful resistance by Ukrainian forces.”
At press time, President Joe Biden was departing for Brussels and Poland for emergency summits of NATO, the European Union, and the G-7. China is backing Russia to attend the G-20 in Indonesia later this year.
Biden told reporters the week prior, “Now Putin’s back is against the wall. He wasn’t anticipating the extent or the strength of our unity. And the more his back is against the wall, the greater the severity of the tactics he may employ.”